NCAA Scouting Fourth Round Analysis by Paul Emery April 25th 2010
1 (99) Rams – Mardy Gilyard – WR Cincinnati talented playmaker lacks top end speed and has a past which may have raised some red flags. Slot type who may be able to help as a returner.
2 (100) Vikings (From Lions) Everson Griffen – DE USC big fall for Griffen who was regarded as a first round pick by many pass rushers don’t appear to be carrying a premium this year. Inconsistent, but has potential.
3 (101) Buccaneers – Mike Williams – WR Syracuse major character concern very talented, but quit on the team half way through the season with a suspension pending. Classic boom or bust.
4 (102) Texans (From Chiefs) – Daryl Sharpton – LB Miami (Fl) shorter than ideal, but flies around and makes plays. Might start out at WLB.
5 (103) Redskins Perry Riley – ILB LSU Riley projects to ILB in the 3-4. Has the size for the role and is an above average athlete.
6 (104) Titans (From Seahawks) – Alterraun Verner – CB – UCLA short CB with a poor vertical jump lacks top end speed and on Combine data is a poor value pick here. Very aggressive despite his size. Zone corner only and then may not make it at the next level.
7 (105) Eagles (From Browns) – Trevard Lindley – CB Kentucky another CB goes off the board again, shorter than ideal and lacking top end speed. Are teams ignoring the pass rush and going DB to try and copy the Saints model?
8 (106) Raiders Bruce Campbell – OT Maryland Raiders take the pick many projected to them in Round One in Round Four super value for them. Medical concerns drop Campbell who is very raw. He must really regret coming out early.
9 (107) Bills – Marcus Easley – WR Connecticut has excellent triangle numbers still very inexperienced, but has a good frame and demonstrates ability to catch the ball with this hands away from his body. Interesting talent.
10 (108) Raiders (From Jaguars ) Jacoby Ford – WR Clemson Ford has world class straight line speed and should be an effective KR and deep threat in the Raiders vertical passing offense. Lacks top change of direction, so is a perfect fit to Oakland.
11 (109) Bears Corey Wootton – DE Northwestern Wootton was a first round talent before a serious knee injury. Got better as the season went on has a nice frame and could be a steal if he can stay healthy.
12 (110) Chargers (From Dolphins) Darrell Stuckey – S Kansas a rare breed a Safety who can tackle. Is a fine special teams coverage player and will contribute there right away. Nice pick.
13 (111) Seahawks (From Titans) Walter Thurmond – CB Oregon missed most of his senior year with a serious knee injury may need some time on PUP. Has ability if healthy.
14 (112) Jets (From Panthers)- Joe McKnight – RB USC talented back who can contribute right away on third down has durability and character concerns.
15 (113) Patriots (From 49ers through Broncos) Aaron Hernandez – TE/HB Florida too small to be drafted on Day Two receiver only, can’t block. Has ability after the catch, but hands aren’t consistent.
16 (114) Ravens (From Broncos)- Dennis Pitta – TE BYU tested out better at the Combine than expected but as he’s already 25 years of age (2 years on a Mormon mission), he falls to Day Three. Excellent receiver gives effort as a blocker, but not dominant.
17 (115) Giants Phillip Dillard – LB Nebraska a prospect who has moved up and down media draft boards all year. Has good straight line speed, but still tested out bottom on my Combine scale of ILB’s has very short arms which will make it difficult for him to get off blocks.
18 (116) Steelers – Thaddeus Gibson OLB/DE – Ohio State Gibson falls foul to the lack of interest in pass rushers. Played DE in college, so has much to learn in space but has some pass rush skills and is excellent value at this stage.
19 (117) Falcons Joe Hawley OG/OC UNLV versatile prospect who can also play Center. Had an excellent Combine to move him up to the Fourth Round.
20 (118) Texans – Garrett Graham TE/HB Wisconsin odd selection with a similar type James Casey already on the roster. Graham is a solid receiver who lacks top athletic ability. HB type.
21 (119) Dolphins (From Patriots through Cowboys) A.J. Edds – LB Iowa one of the only 4-3 SLB’s gets taken by a 3-4 team who move up to get him. Edds can cover the TE and get off blocks he’s a very good pick but I thought he would have long gone to a 4-3 team.
22 (120) Bengals Geno Atkins – DT – Georgia one of three excellent Georgia DT’s played in a rotation. Lacks size and arm length but has excellent quickness.
23 (121) Eagles Keenan Clayton – LB Oklahoma lacks top size, but is an excellent athlete ideal special teams coverage type who could challenge at WLB.
24 (122) Eagles (From Packers) Mike Kafka – QB Northwestern Eagles take a developmental QB. Kafka makes some poor throws, but he’s tough mentally and comes from a similar offense to Kevin Kolb in college.
25 (123) Saints (From Ravens through Cardinals) Al Woods – DT LSU has the bulk and arm length to play over Center and hold up. Has been inconsistent, but flashed ability to penetrate and get off blocks. Interesting prospect.
26 (124) Panthers (From Cardinals through Jets) Eric Norwood – OLB – South Carolina don’t like the scheme fit is a gifted pass rusher who is best when attacking. Plays far slower when off the line. Interesting the Steelers passed on him as I saw him as a perfect fit for them.
27 (125) Eagles (From Cowboys) Clay Harbor – TE – Missouri State small school type who is a very good receiver and a decent enough blocker. Has potential to develop. Solid pick.
28 (126) Cowboys (From Chargers through Dolphins) Akwasi Owusu-Ansah – CB – Indiana (Pa) had shoulder surgery after the Combine and may need to start the season on PUP. Excellent height, weight and speed type who can also returns punts will need to step up in level, but this could up being the best pick of the round.
29 (127) Seahawks (From Jets through Eagles) E.J. Wilson – DE North Carolina flashed some pass rush ability, but had a very poor combine workout and is not a great pick in my opinion.
30 (128) Lions (From Vikings) Jason Fox – OT Miami (Fl) played LT in college, but will need to kick over to RT as a pro lacks top athletic ability, but has excellent character and is a solid pick.
31 (129) Colts Jacques McClendon – OG Tennessee big, physical mauler drafted with a view to helping the Colts running game.
32 (130) Cardinals (From Saints) O’Brien Schofield OLB Wisconsin hurt his knee at the Senior Bowl and probably won’t play in 2010. Undersized for a 3-4 OLB but has pass rush ability.
33 (131) Bengals (Compensatory selection) Roddrick Muckelroy – LB Texas shorter than ideal and not a great athlete. Special teams type who will throw his body around.
Summary
Best Pick: A.J. Edds ILB Dolphins. I must admit, I was so locked in to him being the best of a very thin 4-3 SLB class, I hadn’t projected him inside in a 3-4 but now the pick has been made, I’ve caught up and I really like the pick. Fine prospect.
Worst Pick: Alterraun Verner – CB – Titans. Short CB who is slow and can’t jump that high = huge red flag. Reminds me of former Cal CB Dante Hughes.
Best Value: Akwasi Owusu-Ansah CB Cowboys. Yes, he may start the season on PUP and yes, he doesn’t have a level of completion validation but he’s got all the tools. If he had played in the Senior Bowl and done well you would have been looking at a high first round pick.
Worst Value: Phillip Dillard – LB Giants. Looking at his Combine numbers, he has no business in this round flashes on tape, but didn’t start all year in college and is another gamble from the Giants.
Biggest Surprise: The number of CB’s coming of the board is much higher than pass rushers. CB’s with questions are coming off the board before pass rushers like Greg Hardy and Ricky Sapp a different type of Draft completely possibly as copy cat teams try and become a Saints type defense. The main problem is, I don’t see it as a great CB class and many of these CB’s I feel may struggle.
NCAA Scouting
